Civilization moves to the West...

The Roman Empire and the Rise of Christianity

Ancient Trade Routes between Europe and Asia: 1st Century CE

Timeline

• 8th century - 4th century BCE (700s-300s): Hellenic Era of Greek Civilization (rise of the Greek city states, e.g., Athens, Sparta)

• 4th Century - 30 BCE: Hellenistic Era of Greek Civilization: Alexander’s reign

• 6th Century BCE - 31BCE: Era of the Roman Republic

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome, 218 BCE

Expansion of Rome

Timeline, cont.

• 31 BCE to about 476 CE: Era of the Roman Empire: Octavian became Augustus Caesar and initiated the Pax Romana

• Palestine or Ancient Israel had lost its political independence around 586 BCE. Palestine and the Jews came under control of the Romans at the time of the birth of Christ (CE 4).

• http://www.centuryone.com/rmnwrd.html and http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/firsteuro/roman.html for maps.

Jewish Diaspora

Timeline, cont

• The Christian religion spread within the Roman Empire, faced persecution from time to time.

• Managing the Empire was administratively difficult: Diocletian split the empire in the late 3rd century to try to develop efficiency.

The Spread of Christianity

Roman Empire, 2d Century, CE

Timeline, cont.

• Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity (313 AD), and the Christian church modeled itself on the organizational structure of the empire.

• Fifth Century (400s): Empire was attacked by barbarians and Rome collapsed in 476.

Rome Divided

Germanic Invasions

Significance for our purposes...

• The ‘center’ of civilization shifted to Rome and the Mediterranean and social practices, economic activity, knowledge were drawn into Rome and ‘radiated’ from Rome to provinces and frontiers.

• Roman world before Constantine was pagan, i.e., polytheistic, and embodied a variety of religions among the many peoples it ruled.

Significance….

• Society continued to be organized into nobility (in Rome: patricians), freemen of lesser wealth (plebeians), and slaves (captured in warfare).

Types of Households in Rome

• Population of Roman Empire at peak: – Total: 70-100 million people– City of Rome: 500-700,000– Provinces: 75% of Total

• Latifundia: large scale plantations farmed by gang slave labor

• Freehold farms: farmed by retired legionnaires, or freemen.

Types of Households...

• Rome settled colonies at its frontiers, and thus incorporated “foreigners” into the state.

• The “paterfamilias” “owned” his wife, children, slaves and could dispose of them at will.

The Challenge of Christianity and the Barbarians…

• Christianity articulated a different moral and spiritual vision: including ideals of humility, charity, ecumenicism and brotherly love: “do unto others as you would have others do unto you…” and the hope of a “Second Coming.”

• The barbarian tribes of Europe and Asia presented military threats to the Empire….